Device for facilitating the turning of steering wheels



June 13, 1939. J. BARR ET AL DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE TURNING OF STEERING WHEELS Original Filed May 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 13, 1939. J. L. BARR ET. AL

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE TURNING OF STEERING WHEELS Original Filed May 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZJ Jw/A/ 1.567312 6N0 allot/M10 Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE TURNING OF STEERING WHEELS John L. Barr, Chevy Chase, Md., and Marion M.

Overman, Washington, D.

assignor to said Barr 0.; said Overman Claims.

This invention relates to devices for facilitating the turning of steering wheels of a vehicle.

This application is a division of our co-pending application, Serial No. 20,862, filed May 10, 1935 fi now Patent No. 2,110,256, dated March 8, 1938.

The steering wheels of a vehicle can be more readily turned when the weight, at least in part, is relieved on them. The device which We have invented is of the type in which a lift element 10. is let down from the vehicle and the vehicle under its own power is driven up on the lift element. The lift element does not actually have to raise the steering wheels from the ground. So long as the weight is relieved, the wheels can be more readily turned. The device shown in the drawings has been placed in the middle of the front axle of the car, but it can be placed to one side of this middle point, for if the weight is relieved on one wheel only, the turning of the steering wheels is facilitated.

The device has particular application where it is sought to park or unpark a car in a confined space.

When the lift element is lowered and the car driven up on it, if the wheels are cramped a twisting motion is imparted to the lift element and it is displaced laterally from its vertical position. This lateral motion shortens the effective length of the lift element between the axle of the 30. car and the ground and tends to give an uneven lift.

It is an object of this invention to provide mechanism which is simple and strong and which will give substantially uniform lift to the steer- 5 ing wheel, or wheels, of a car when the device is operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism for holding the lift element in its raised position and releasing it, which is 40. simple and effective. easy to operate, and requires small repair or replacement.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to our improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be 5 hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising the invention may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the 50 appended claims.

In order to make our invention more clearly understood, we have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in so their useful applications to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a front axle of a car with our device in operative position with 5 its foot in contact with the ground;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device, the front axle being shown as broken away;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; 10.

Figure 4 is a View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a detail view looking down on the 15 latch mechanism from the top, showing the compression element in the raised position;

Figure 7 is a view taken along the line l--'l of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the 20 latch mechanism in the released position; Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the. latch mechanism in released position and the compression element being lowered;

Figure 10 is a view taken along the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; Figure 11 is a bottom plan View of a foot for our lift element;

Figure 12 is a view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a front axle l, carrying front steering wheelsv 2. Mounted on the front axle l is a support bracket 3 which is held by a U-clamp 4 to the front axle. The arms 5 of the U-clamp 4 pass through apertures in the bracket 3 and in a support 6. Bolts 1 hold the assembly in place.

There are two support brackets 3 (see Fig. 5) and two sets of U-clamps 4. The support 6 is bifurcated and passes over the arms 5 of the U- 40 clamps 4 adjacent the top of each bracket 3.

In order to strengthen the hold of the brackets 3 on the front axle I, we have provided clamp. members 40 which fit around the axle (see Figs.

3 and 4), and which are fastened firmly against the bracket 3 by nuts 4l. Pivoted in the brackets 3 are the cylindrical ends 8 of a support bar 9. There is a pivot l0 carried in the middle of the support bar 9 and two pivots H on either side of the pivot ID. or compression element l2 which has a female member l3 and male member 14. The female member is provided with a slot l5 which fits over the pivot ID.

The male member l4 of the lift element 12 is There is a lift by means of vulcanizing to the foot piece I8 or.

by means of screws 2I, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The rubber pad 26 is providedwith downwardly extending projections 22 which give a firm grip on the surface of the roadway.

The length of the lift element can be adjusted by screwing the male member I4 up or down within the female member I3 of the lift I2. A holding nut 23 can be tightly screwed against the bottom of the female member I3 and acts as a lock nut to hold the parts in the desired position, once the adjustment of the length has been effected.

The female member I3 is adapted to slide within a slot 24 formed in the support .bar 9. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, when the lift element is perpendicular to support bar 9, the pivot I6 is at the bottom of the slot I5. Pivoted on, pivots I I are pivoted links 25. There are two pairs of pivoted links 25. These links 2 5 are provided with slots 26 in their lower ends which fit over a pivot 21 which passes through an aperture in the female member I3 of the lift element I2; With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5 (unbroken line) the pivot 21 lies at the top of the slots 26 and the pivot I0 lies at the bottom of the slot I5. If the lift element I2 is transvserely displaced, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, the parts will assume a position in which one of the slots 26 will slide upwardly on the piv- 0t 21 and the slot I5 will slide downwardly on pivot I6. This arrangement is such that there is substantially a uniform lift'given to the front axle of the car, even when the lift element I2 is transversely displaced.

' This substantially uniform lift is of great advantage for reasons heretofore set forth.

In Fig. 4, the lift element I2 is shown in dotted lines. longitudinally displaced, pivoting on cylindrical end 8 of support'bar 9. By this displacement, the end of the vehicle is raised and lowered, andfthe operator will apply his brakes when he feels he has obtained the requisite lift of the front wheels of the car.

In order to keep the lift element I2 centered asmuch as possible, and in order to insure nonrattling of the parts, we have provided a spring 28 which is attached to an extension 29 of the pivot Ill and to an extension 36 of the pivot 21'. This spring is under tension and tends to hold the parts in the position shown in unbroken lines in Fig. 5.

In order to raise and lower the lift element I2, we have. shown a pivot 3I to which is attached a cylindrical member 32 which has a cylindrical aperture 33 (see Fig. '7). In this cylindrical aperture slides a rod 34 having a head 35 which fits the aperture 33. The rod 34 passes through an aperture. 36 in the upper portion of the member 32. Fixed to the rod 34 is a head 31 to which is attached a Bowden wire 38, or other flexible connection. By pulling up on, or releasing, the Bow den wire 38, the compression element may be raised or lowered.

The associated parts 32 to 31, inclusive, com.- prise a lost motion connection with the Bowden wire 38. The Bowden wire 38 is adapted to slide ina housing connection 50v which permits the wire the support 54.

merit.

to slide through the end 42 of thesupport 6. The wire is covered with a protective sheath SI and extends upwardly to the steering post 52 of the car. The end of the wire 36 is provided with an operating hand ring 53 through which the compression element may be raised and held in place in its inoperative upper position on a hook 53, or released and lowered at will by the driver The anti-rattle device can be adjusted by means of a set bolt 46 carried by extension 42 of the support 6. This anti-rattle member, once adjusted, will contact against the top of the foot piece I8 in its up position and prevent rattling of the parts.

The extension 42 of the support 6 is provided with a downwardly extending support 54 on which is pivoted a trip lever 55 at 56. The trip 55 isprovided with an aperture 51 through which is adapted to pass the Bowden wire 38. To the opposite end of the trip 55 are pivoted at 58 links 553 which are joined by a connecting bar 60 and which have at their ends pivotmembers 6I which are suitably attached to the ends of the arms 59. The pivot members 5| are adapted to slide in slots or grooves 52 formed in the top of a catch member 63 pivoted at 63 on thesupport 54..

' The catch member 63 is provided with a central aperture 64 in which is housed a ball detent 65 which is spring pressed by means of spring 66 against the lower laterally extending surface of The support 54 is provided with two cup-shaped apertures 6'I in which the ball 65 is adapted to engage. The ball arrangement is such that the catch 63 is held either in the position shown in Fig. 7, or that of Fig. 8, after move- The ball and cup-shaped recesses in which it falls yieldingly hold the catch in either one of the two positions shown.

Tension springs 63 pivoted at 69 are attached to the connecting rod 60 between the arms 59.

The catch 63 is provided at its end with hook members I6 carried on the bifurcated end of the catch 63. These hook members III are adapted to engage with projections 'II' mounted on-the'lift element I2.

In the raised position of the lift element (when it is inoperative), the parts are in the position shown in Figs"? and 3, the ball 65 resting in the cup G'I'iwhich tends to hold the catch in contact with the lugs II on the lift element I2, the springs 68 tending to hold the operating lever 55 and links 53 in the position shown in'these figures.

Let 'us assume that the driver wishes to lower the lift element. He pulls up on the ring-.53 which raises head 3'! on the rod 34 of the lost motion connection causing head 3'! to strike the end of the trip 55, rocking it against tension of spring 68 andpushing down onthe links 59 to move the catchinto' the position shown in Fig. 8. The operator then releases the ring 53'and allows the lift element I2 to fall, as shown in Fig.9. In the meantime, the tension of the spring 68 has pulled the trip lever 55 into theposition shown in Fig.9, and the pivot elements 6I carried by the links have moved to the opposite end of the slot from their position in Fig. 8.

When the driver pulls up again on the Bowden wire 38, the head 31 of the lost motion connection will hit the trip rocking it against tension of springs 68, pushing down on the catch 63 through links 59 and moving it back into the position shown in Fig. 7. Upon release of tension on the wire 38, the latch 55 will assume the position shown in Fig. '7, and head 31 will fall into the lowermost position.

In Figures 11 and 12 is shown a replaceable rubber pad 20. The pad 20 is fastened by cementing or vulcanizing to a metal disk and is provided with countersunk apertures 8| for the reception of screws 2|.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A latch for a lift element for a vehicle comprising a support, a pivoted catch adapted to engage the lift element pivoted on the support, a detent on the catch, indentations on the support into which the detent is adapted to engage, and spring means carried by the catch and pressing against the detent.

2. A latch for a lift element for a vehicle comprising a pivoted catch adapted to engage the lift element, a pivoted trip for moving the catch, a connection to move the element, means on the connection to engage the trip, and an off-center spring controlled means to urge the trip into either its on or oil: position.

3. A latch for a lift element for a vehicle com prising a pivoted catch adapted to engage the lift element, a pivoted trip for moving the catch, a connection to move the element, an arm. pivoted to the trip, a pivot in the other end of the arm adapted to slide in a groove in the catch, and a spring attached at one end to the arm whereby the catch is urged either into its on or oif position.

4. A latch for a lift element for a vehicle com.- prising a pivoted catch adapted to engage the lift element, a pivoted trip for moving the catch, a connection to move the element, lost motion means on the connection to engage the trip, an arm pivoted to the trip, a pivot in the other end of the arm adapted to slide in a groove in the catch, and a spring attached at one end to the arm whereby the catch is urged either into its on or off position.

5. A latch for a lift element for a vehicle comprising a support, a pivoted catch adapted to engage the lift element pivoted on the support, a

detent on the catch, indentations on the support into which the detent is adapted to engage, spring means carried by the catch and pressing against the detent, a pivoted trip for moving the catch, a connection to move the element, lost motion means on the connection to engage the trip, an arm pivoted to the trip, a pivot in the other end of the arm adapted to slide in a groove in the catch, and a spring attached at one end to the arm whereby the catch is urged either into its on or off position.

JOHN L. BARR. MARION M. OV'ERMAN. 

